Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-04
When She Is Engaged.

Society is very much to blame for its
readiness to declare an engagement
off without sufficient reason, and to cir
culate rumors prejudicial to the gen.
tleman if the engagement is broken.
This has often led to the final disrup,
ton Of relations which might other.
wise have terminated in happy mar
riage. Unfortunately in an age of
gold, money has become an important
factor in modern matrimonial engage
ments. But plenty of young hearts
find each other out, and despite tho
woes of civilization, the good old fash
ion of marrying for love is not yet ex-
tinct. Once engaged, the happy pair
should avoid all public demonstrations
of affection, except that they might
walk together arm in arm, and the
young lady may drive out with her af-
fianced with q servant behind. She
must not, however, go to the opera or
theater with him alone; she must have
q chaperon if she would consult the
prejudices Of society.
An engaged girl should not put on
airs. Some assume different manner
when engaged.
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eye,
Misprizing what they look OH and her wit
Values herself so highly that to her
All matters else seem weak. She cannot love
Nor take no shape nor project nor affection,
She is self-endearer.
She has the air of victorious gen.
eral who rides into captured city.
Fortunately such conduct is not
usual, but it is by no means impossi-
BILE. Then, again, an engaged girls
conduct toward the family into which
she is about to enter should be most
amiable and respectful. Some women
have but to smile and bow to conquer
the world; there are others who must
study long and patiently to achieve
good manner. The worse manner is
born Of coarse Indifference and self
sufficient arrogance. Breeding, culti-
walton, and manners come from the
heart and mind. She is the precious
daughter-in-law who comes into fam
lily bringing all these as her dowry ;who
treats her future family with even
more circumspect politeness than she
would her own; who is so enchanting,
so sympathetic that the family do not
wonder that Charles fell in love, and
they all welcome this new addition with
almost the enthusiasm of q lover.
When an engagement is announced
the family OF the lover all call on that
lady. The announcement should come
from the mother Of tie gentleman. AS
soon as is convenient and proper there
should be an invitation extended by the
family of the young man to that OF the
young woman. She then becomes an
autocrat; everything is referred to her.
She goes out with her future mother
in-law or sisters, and is one of them, in
fact, though not in name; she can visit
them at their house, but she must
never travel alone with her lover. Our
language is very deficient. We have
no word to represent iance and fancee;
amy daughter is engaged" is very
awkward phrase; "my daughters beau"
is old fashioned; "my daughters young
man" is very countritied; my daugh-
ter's lover" is scarcely proper phrase,
10 we have to beat about the bush UNI
less we adopt the French word, TOR the
sake of convenience.
A tiance gives his fiancee ring, q
diamond generally, or ruby set with
diamonds. He may also give her
sanphire or a turquoise. The etiquette
10 be observed by a young man to-
wards his future bride may very safely
1ft +o tho munitions Of his heart